Whoever wins the US presidential election in 2016, Russia will work with them, President Vladimir Putin assured. He added that despite the differences the two countries have, they also share many common interests.

“We will work with any American head of state the American
people elect. Our cooperation is not with a particular person but
with a nation, a big and powerful international player,” the
Russian president said in an interview on Saturday, on Rossiya 1
TV.

Among the common interests Russia and US share, according to
Putin, are non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction,
fighting organized crime and terrorism, tackling poverty and
other pressing issues.

Israeli weapons in Ukraine would cause more deaths

Putin warned that if
Israel supplied lethal arms to Ukraine, as some politicians there
suggested in retaliation to Russia’s planned delivery of S-300
surface-to-air missiles to Iran, it would “only cause a new
round of hostility. The death toll would rise, but the result
would not change.”

“It’s a choice for the Israeli leadership to make, they can
do what they see necessary,” he added.

The Russian president also refused to confirm that Russia decided
not to supply similar systems to Syria at Israel’s request.
Earlier this week, Putin said a deal “with a certain Middle
Eastern country” for S-300s was canceled due to Israel’s concern
the system would endanger all flights over its territory.

The country in question is widely presumed to be Syria, but Putin
refused to confirm it directly.

“I said what I said. That is enough, I believe. Experts know
what I am talking about,” he explained.

Times magazine rating applies to Russia, not its president

The leading position in the readers’ rating for Times magazine’s
person of the year poll, which Putin won, is not really relevant
and describes Russia rather than its leader, the president said
in the interview.

“The power of a nation’s leader is measured first and
foremost by the economic power and military capability of this
nation,” he explained.

“Still I am grateful to the people who showed this respect,
not to me – though it’s pleasant as well – but to our country,
Russia,” he added.

No comment on recognizing Ukrainian rebels’ republics

Putin refused to comment on whether Russia would recognize the
self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republic. These are
the entities in eastern Ukraine formed after the regions rebelled
against the new government in Kiev, after it took power in a
violent coup last year. The rebels declared independence from
Ukrainian sovereignty, but are not recognized by the
international community.

“I wouldn’t speak about it right now. Whatever I say, it may
prove to be counterproductive. We will be guided by the realities
on the ground,” the president said.

President Putin was speaking to Saturday’s news program anchor
Sergey Brilev just days after his annual Q&A marathon.